Wahl Enjoying Central Opportunity

When Tyson Wahl signed with the Crew during the winter, the veteran defender was viewed as a left-center back first in the eyes of the technical staff.

After playing his first game at that position all season, Wahl said he’s just been happy to see as much action as he has this year for the Crew.

“Considering I signed here in the offseason and I bounced around last year, I came into the whole season pretty open-minded and hoping to take advantage of my opportunity,” Wahl said after today’s training session at the team’s facility in Obetz. “I can play (either) and I feel pretty happy that I’ve gotten the opportunities to play as much this year as I have.”

In eight MLS seasons, Wahl has played for five teams including four in the last three years. He opened the 2012 season with Montreal before being traded to Colorado.

Wahl was signed in early January ostensibly to provide depth along the back line, a though given further credence when the Crew signed Brazilian defender Gláuber to be a starting center back nearly three weeks later. The plan was for Gláuber to pair with Chad Marshall in the middle of the team’s defense, and the left-footed Wahl found himself opening the season at left back. He started the first seven games before losing his starting spot to Agustin Viana, but the Uruguayan went down with an injury 30 minutes into his first start at the position and giving way to Wahl.

He would start the next nine games at left back before falling out of favor with coach Robert Warzycha. Wahl was not active for the next nine games, only to reclaim a starting position in the first game under interim coach Brian Bliss. He has one assist this season in 1,705 minutes, the second-most minutes Wahl has played in a season in his career.

Wahl’s eventual move to what Bliss said was his preferred position only came about when Josh Williams, Danny O’Rourke, Eric Gehrig and Kevan George were all unavailable last Saturday against Montreal. Wahl said he spent much of the week practicing as a center back.

“I was preparing for it all week and I got the opportunity to play there and I thought we were pretty good,” he said. “I thought I did a solid job.”

The Crew allowed an early goal but came back for the 2-1 win, and Bliss said Wahl has shown enough to stay in the lineup alongside Marshall.

Asked if Williams could be back from his concussion in time for Saturday’s game with Chicago, he said, “Tyson and Chad have worked well so it’s not like if he could play I’d dump him in there. I don’t think I’d do that right now.”

Although it took 29 games for Wahl to earn his first start at center back, the eight-year veteran said he feels he can do well at the position.

“Every player has confidence in themselves,” he said. “Although I was filling in for guys I think I’m good enough to play the position. I didn’t feel like it was a shot in the dark and I wasn’t surprised that things went somewhat well.”